Fisher-Price Papasan Cradle Swing - Nature's Touch N1973
by Fisher-Price
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List Price: Category: Baby Product See more product details |
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Baby Products Reviews of Fisher-Price Papasan Cradle Swing - Nature's Touch N1973
Customer Review: Great craddle but not much else
Summary: 3 Stars
Up-date: After reading some of the other reviews, I noticed that other people talked about having an incline position. I talked to Babies R Us and found that our swing was missing the latch for the incline position so our swing was fixed in the lay-down position only. This was pretty upsetting & shows me the quality that Fisher Price puts in their products. Babies R Us gladly exchanged the swing & my son now LOVES it. I still think it's a bit ridiculous that there are only 2 positions. The pillow is not detachable - you can't take it off to wash it. Also the way it's shaped, it fits a newborns head nice & snug but an older baby (about 6 wks & up )cannot fully turn it's head from side to side. The toys on mobile & toy bar are kind of lame (as another reviewer also wrote) and we are on our 2nd swing and there still is little or no difference between the slowest & fastest speed setting. (and I still think it's way too fast for newborns)
But.. I really like the side to side motion & shape of the craddle. It's really comfortable, fits him perfectly & he snuggles right in. SO... I cut off the pillow, added our oun toys with the linkadoo's both on the mobile & toybar. With the new incline position, we love this swing & use it everyday. I think I now would change my 3 stars to a 4 star rating.
I recieved this craddle/swing for my baby shower & couldn't wait to use it - it looked like the perfect swing. After finally being able to put my newborn son in it, we became more & more disappointed. Now, after 2 & a half months of using it, I think it has more con's then pro's and hardly use it at all.
First... It is only what its title is - a "craddle" and not so much a "swing". It doesn't have a reclining seat adjustment so the baby is always only on it's back. This works well for newborns or for napping but not good for babies (about 6-8 wks & up) who are ready to be propped up to play or look around during wakeful periods. This also defeats the purpose of the toybar in front. If the baby is always on his back, it's hard to see and/or reach it. (My son is now 11 weeks & has yet to discover it!) The other problem with only having the "lay down" position is it encourages the "Flat Head Syndrom"... You cannot incline the baby to take the pressure off the back of their heads when they're awake. Also..The way the seat is shaped, the baby cannot turn it's head to the side while he is sleeping so the pressure is always on the back of his head. This forced us to have to limit our use. Between sleeping all night on his back and using this swing, he started having a flat head (we only used this swing 1-3 hrs a day) I tried everything - neck wings, special pillows for "flat head syndrom" but nothing worked. By 7wks we were forced to run out and by a travel swing (I didn't want to house another full size swing!)We liked the little travel swing much better!! We recline it for when he's sleeping & incline it when he wants to play ( & he can reach the toybar) or watch his brothers...and best of all - his "flat head" is completely gone and he actually stays in the regular travel swing ALOT longer!
My second complaint is that although this craddle/swing has 6 speed settings, there is not much difference between the lowest & highest setting. The lowest setting was WAY TOO fast for my son as a newborn. He flew in that thing!(I had several other moms tell me the same thing ) We weren't able to turn on the "swing" part until he was about 2-3 wks (12 pnds). Some people suggested maybe it was because as newborns they are a lighter weight making it swing faster ( but my son was 8pnds 15oz at birth). For $130 I think the speed should be able to accommodate a newborn - my $50 travel swing does. It has a 5 speed setting & low really is low!. I only wish I had it from the begining!!
What I did like about it was the craddle seat. It's oval shape makes it supper comfy and the babies (especially newborns) snuggle right in. This did help with getting him to sleep & with those colickly/fussy periods (but I think my little travel one would have done the same thing - maybe even better because of its true low speed)
I also like the natural sounds & mirror mobil.
Over all I wouldn't recommend this because he could only use it for sleeping.. causing him to pretty much out-grow it by 6wks. We couldn't use the swing part for the first 2 weeks. He finally noticed the mobile at about 4wks & has never played with the toy bar...for $130 & with how balky it is..It is way to limiting ... I feel like we were hardly able to use it!
Customer Review: This swing is DEFINITELY worth the extra cost!
Summary: 5 Stars
In searching for the perfect swing, we ran across the Fisher Price Baby Papasan Cradle Swing during a trip to Babies-R-Us. This swing was more expensive than any other swing in the store. We wondered if it was worth the extra cost. Because the swing seat looked so cuddly, and because it would swing back-and-forth or side-to-side, we decided to go ahead and put this on our baby registry. It was the most expensive item that we registered for. Our son was born in June, 2006, and so far, the Fisher Price Baby Papasan Cradle Swing has been the gift that we've used most often. So, if you're wondering if this swing is worth the extra cost, I would say "Absolutely!" Here are the pros and cons:
PROS:
1. Reclining Cradle is perfect for newborns: Because the swing reclines and cradles the infant, Elliott has been able to relax in his swing from the first week we brought him home. In fact, our son sleeps in his cradle swing more than he sleeps in his crib. As a point of comparison, my mother has a Graco swing that is more upright, and Elliott is still unable to relax in the Graco swing because he lacks the head control needed to hold his head up. His head always slumps over and we end up having to pack a towel around his head so that he can sit in the Graco swing; he's not very comfortable.
2. Mobile & Music: In the past month, he's taken great interest in watching the bird, butterfly, and dragonfly go around and around. He will literally watch this for 15-20 min (which is a long time for a 3 month old!) The music helps him drift off to sleep, and the volume control is great. The music can be really, really quiet or pretty loud.
3. Durability: This swing is on for at least 6 hours a day, and we have not had any problems with it. The fabric cover has been machine washed on the cold gentle cycle many, many times. It comes out perfect and looks brand new. The cover is pretty easy to get on and off for washing.
4. Stability: We have a large dog, and she has knocked into the swing a couple of times. It has not budged. Also, at the higher speeds, the swing does not look like it's going to tip over. It's has very smooth rocking motion and great balance.
5. Ability to swing side-to-side: Elliott prefers swinging side-to-side (as opposed to back-and forth). This swing easily allows for both movements.
6. Quiet: I think the motor that runs the Baby Papasan swing and mobile is very quiet. On the Graco swing that my mother has, the motor is much louder. Elliott stares at the place where the motor noise comes from, and he will not go to sleep. Instead, he usually ends up crying at it.
CONS:
1. When we first got the swing, I'm not sure what was going on, but even at the lowest setting, it would swing really fast. Now, it's stopped, and the slow setting is in fact, slow. I'm not sure if it just had to be broken in.
2. I really wish this swing had an A/C adaptor. We use this so often, we've already been through over 20 batteries. This gets really expensive. It would be more economical to be able to plug this into the wall.
Update: Our son is two years old now, so we definitely are not using the swing anymore. We did enjoy a lot of use from it, and I would still recommend it. Our son was very small for his age, so he didn't grow out of his swing until he was about 10 months old. Because the swing lays back, he never wanted to just sit in the swing. He would only get it in for naps once he was about 8 months old and sitting up on his own, but he enjoyed the naps in his swing much more than the naps in his crib at this time. Now, we have given the swing to my niece who is 2 months old. Unfortunately, she has colic, and my sister said the swing is the only place my niece will sleep if she's not breastfeeding her. My sister turns the swing on its highest setting, swaddles the baby, and puts her in the swing. It seems to work, but she also said, "where's the A/C adaptor?" LOL
Customer Review: Love this swing
Summary: 5 Stars
We love this swing so much that my husband wishes they made one for adults! My daughter is tiny (born 4 lbs. 11 oz.) so much of my review is geared with that in mind. I also did a lot of research on swings before purchasing this particular model and highly recommend this swing.
THE SEAT
The seat (or the "pod" as we call it) really cradles the baby. The adjustable head support can be easily moved down to support smaller babies and raised as they grow. The seat also has 2 positions - a more traditional swing position and one that reclines further back. I find that the reclined position is more appropriate for little ones that cannot yet support their heads. The seat also offers 2 swing directions - side to side and front to back. We've used both and don't prefer one over the other, although it is nice to have the option change the routine.
SWING SPEED
There are 8 swing speeds. The swing does swing fast (even on the lowest setting), however the instruction manual explains to hang a blanket off the seat of the swing to slow it down. I was skeptical that this would work, but it really does slow it down. The blanket is a perfect solution. As my daughter grows into the swing, the blanket will not be necessary.
NOISE LEVEL
I've noticed that my swing is a bit noisy - you hear a click, click, click as it swings back and forth. A first I found it a bit annoying, but I've managed to tune it out and now I don't even notice it. I actually think the repetative sound is probably soothing to the baby.
SOUNDS
There are 4 nature sound settings and 1 musical setting which plays a variety of classical tunes. We have used the "sounds" a few times and found that the white noise that it creates is helpful in calming down my daughter when she is really hyped up. Our favorite is the cricket sounds. Between the swing motion and the white noise, she ultimately calms and drifts off to sleep after being really wound-up. The sounds do turn off automatically after 8 minutes (I know others have complained about this), however this has not caused us a problem as we rarely found it necessary to reset. On the other hand, the benefit of this feature is that the time limit helps conserve battery life since you do not need to remember to manually turn off the sound.
MOBILE
The entire mobile rotates in a circle and has moving leaves and 3 colorful bugs that spin. There is also a rounded mirror on the bottom of the mobile that the baby can look into. Initially I felt that the mobile was cute for adults but a waste for the child, however we just started using it and found my daughter staring at it and tracking the objects as they spun around. So, even though I thought it was a waste, my daughter seems to like it!
PORTABILITY
The swing does have a folding mechanism that brings the legs together for easier storage, however keep in mind that they seat is rather bulky and still takes up a good amount of room.
COLORS
I appreciated that this swing offered neutral colors so that it is not an eye sore in my home. The majority of the swing is beige. The spots of color are on the mobile (leaves and bugs). These color spots are not over done and offer a soothing environment for the baby. I found so many other swings to be too colorful and overstimulating and we wanted a swing that calmed the baby, not necessarily for the sole purpose of entertaining them.
OVERALL
I give this swing an A+. The only fault I can find is the clicking noise, but this is not a deal killer for me. There are too many other benefits that make this a great swing. Highly recommended.
Customer Review: Why this swing is better than the Graco 6-speed model
Summary: 4 Stars
I had originally bought the Graco 6-speed swing, but unfortunately, the motor burned out on it after only two months of use. But that's fine, because it gave me an excuse to go buy the Baby Papasan Cradle Swing!
Things I love about this swing are:
1) The motor is EXTREMELY quiet. As mentioned previously, I had the Graco 6-speed swing, and the "clunk click clunk click" noise it made was unnerving. The Papasan Swing motor is so quiet that I can barely hear that it's even on!
2) The mobile is soooo cute! Not only does the whole thing rotate, but each individual leaf and bird/bug actually moves, too! The leaves flap up and down, and the bird/bugs rotate and spin, as if they are actually flying! My baby coos at the mobile, and I think she likes the shiny mirror on the underside of the mobile.
3) The seat seems like it is very comfortable for my baby. I call it the "Celeste Nest" because it looks so comfy and soft! It is nice and big and has plenty of room for her to spread out in it when she falls asleep. It even has a nice pillow so her head doesn't roll around.
4) It has a completely removable toy tray. This is nice, because my baby sometimes gets "mad" at the toy tray because she's overstimulated and just wants to sleep. I can take it out of her way so she can get comfy to take a nice long snooze.
5) Volume control dial for the music--need I say anything more?!?
6) And, of course, the option to either have your baby swing straight ahead or from side to side (cradle) is very nice! The cradle swinging option really soothes my baby nicely.
My minor gripes about the swing are:
1) The mobile and music shut off automatically after seven minutes. So every seven minutes, I have to get up and press the reset button to start it going again. Whatever happened to the PARENTS getting to decide when to turn the music and mobile off?
2) The big puffy headrest is nice, but it's not removeable. It is a little too puffy and restraining, and it bends my baby's ears forward. She also has a hard time turning her head, because it is so snug to her face. This frustrates her and she starts crying, because my baby loves to be able to look around and see what's going on.
3) The seat only has two positions--reclined or upright. When I put the seat in the one and only upright position, it still doesn't sit my baby up very much.
4) The toys on the toy tray are kind of lame--there are two plastic arched bars that each have two plastic toys on them (brightly colored flowers and bees). My baby likes this just ok, since they don't rattle or make noise, she loses interest in them fast. Then there is the turtle rattle toy in the center. It is attached by a strap that is attached to the underside of the toy tray. My baby inevitably drops this toy in her lap over and over, each time requiring me to dig it out of her lap and position it back in its spot on the tray. I wish the rattle toy was mounted onto the top of the toy tray so she could bat at it without dropping it. Hey, at least this swing comes with toys on the toy tray, unlike the Graco 6-speed model!
All in all, this is a really great swing. The color scheme is neutral and should match any decor. Yes, the swing is pretty expensive, but I think for the quality of the swing, it is worth it.
Customer Review: The Cadillac of swings, sooooo worth the extra $$$!
Summary: 5 Stars
When my husband and I went to register for our son, we knew we would need to get a swing. When we saw this one, we knew this was it! I've worked in daycare with infants for years and have dealt with some very crappy swings. This one is fantastic for so many reasons. Whomever designed this swing put a lot of thought into it.
1) To start off, the swing is so compatible with the decor of any home. A lot of really great swings come in weird colors, like turqoise; a lot of crappy ones come in decent colors. This is the best of both worlds.
2) The seat is positioned so that the baby's legs aren't swinging in the wind. My sons legs stay warm the whole time, probably because his circulation isn't being cut off!
3) The seat-belt/harness part has elasticized leg openings, so they comfortably fit any baby. I always felt bad for the little ones with super chubby thighs because they looked sort of pinched in other swings.
4) The seat cushion is so soft and wide. Most other swing seats are much narrower, and the babies are stuck sitting in them with their shoulders touching the sides. They just looked so cramped. The babies in this swing look like royalty, just hangin' out!
5) The mobile is so cute and it moves around, instead of just hanging there. You can turn the mobile on by itself, no music and no swinging. And it's positioned so that the baby can actually see it. Our little guy LOVES being in it. He gets excited when the bugs circle around; he coos and laughs the whole time! Plus, the mirror on the underside gives the baby something else to look at. (If you've ever looked at the underside of most crib mobiles, there's not much there most of the time. They are more for the parents to look at than the baby.)
6) The toy bar is nice because it has something for the little guy to play with, that can't fall off and have to be picked up. It's also nice because it's totally removeable. You can attach it when the child is awake and wants to play, and take it off when you want to lay them down and tuck them in with a comfy blanket.
7) We love the ability to change the swing from side-to-side (like a cradle), to front-and-back (like a regular swing). And there are six different speed settings. It's nice to know that we can adjust it to our son's needs at each time he's in it (sleepy, wide-awake, resting, playful, etc.). And he can just swing, without the mobile spinning or the music playing.
8) Last but not least, it has music, but you don't always have to have it on because there's an on-off switch and volume control. Sometimes, Mommy just needs it to be quiet for a little while! It also has the ability to play the music without moving the mobile or swinging.
This truly is the Cadillac of swings. All the controls and accessories work independently of each other, so each time the baby is in it, it's a different experience. I'd recommend this swing to anyone who is looking into buying a swing, whether for the first time, or as a replacement. It's by far worth the extra money. (If someone hadn't bought it for us as a gift, we knew we'd be buying it ourselves.)